Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Durran Morgan was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for murdering his 25-year-old nephew during a Memorial Day weekend party in St. Albans in 2023. Morgan quarreled with Chevaughn Millings over payment for the barbeque chicken – and who was entitled to eat it – at the gathering and then shot him 10 times, also injuring his 20-year-old niece.

District Attorney Katz said: “Durran Morgan became enraged over food payment during a family barbecue and then settled the dispute with a gun. He will now face 50 years to life in prison for this horrific act of violence that will haunt his family for many years. We hope this sentence helps the family continue to heal and recover from this tragedy.”
Morgan, 41, of St. Albans, was convicted in November by a jury of murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree before Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise. Justice Aloise sentenced Morgan today to 50 years to life in prison.

According to the charges and trial testimony, on May 27, 2023, at approximately 9:13 p.m., Morgan and numerous relatives gathered at their St. Albans family home. The defendant and 25-year-old Chevaughn Millings fought over payment for the food. Millings, who was the defendant’s nephew, and another guest pushed the defendant out of a side door at the house.

Morgan re-entered the house through the front door and confronted his nephew. The defendant pulled a gun from his waistband and shot Millings 10 times in his abdomen and legs, killing him. Morgan’s 20-year-old niece, who was standing near the victim, also sustained non-fatal gunshot injuries to her leg and a grazing wound on her forehead.

Morgan fled to Georgia after the shooting and later returned to New York to surrender.

The defendant, who testified on his own behalf, claimed to have been a United States Marine and combat veteran. Upon cross-examination it was shown that he had no military record.

Assistant District Attorney Gabriel J. Reale, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, prosecuted the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Erica Silverman, of Felony Trial Bureau III, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Kosinski, Homicide Bureau Chief, and Karen Ross and Jonathan Selkowe, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.